When Nancy Agyeman Duah was named Overall Best Graduating Student and Valedictorian of Ho Technical University’s Class of 2025, it marked the culmination of years of sacrifice, much of it borne by her parents.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Technology in Hospitality Management and a cumulative grade point average of 3.96 out of 4.0 — the highest in the university — at the institution’s 26th Congregation held in November 2025. Behind that achievement was a family in Abuakwa in the Ashanti Region whose modest livelihoods — her father repairing engines, her mother selling sachet water — had kept her in school through the difficult years.
Her journey from a household sustained by engine grease and pure water sales to the top of her graduating class is also a story about how targeted financial support can change the course of a young person’s education.
A Scholarship at the Right Time
As Nancy progressed through school, the cost of her education grew harder to meet. By the time she entered university, tuition and other expenses were a constant worry, and her parents, now in their later years, had limited capacity to carry the cost of tertiary study.
They never asked her to give up. “My parents always encouraged me not to worry about finances but to trust that God would provide. Although the burden was heavy at times, I stayed committed to my studies,” she said.
Nancy first heard about the MTN Bright Scholarship in a friend’s group chat, and her brother-in-law encouraged her to apply. When the news came that she had been selected, it was a defining moment for the family.
“Between my tears of joy and my mom’s screams of thanksgiving, I can truly say it was one of the best days for my family and me,” she said.
The scholarship, which covers tuition, accommodation, a laptop and a stipend for books and study materials, meant more than money. It eased the pressure on her parents and allowed her to concentrate on her studies instead of how her fees would be met.
“The MTN Bright Scholarship was more than a scholarship for me; it was a bridge between potential and possibility,” she said.
Finishing at the Top
Nancy’s achievement was all the more remarkable given the broader context of her graduating class. A total of 1,869 students completed their programmes in the 2024/2025 academic year, with 287 obtaining First Class honours. She finished ahead of them all.
Her success came as Ho Technical University itself was marking significant strides. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga reported that the number of PhD-qualified faculty had risen from 14 in 2019 to over 90 in 2025, while research publications indexed in Scopus had grown from four in 2012 to 631 as of October 2025. The university also maintained its position as the best-ranked technical university in Ghana and led the nation in the 2024 Green Metric World University Rankings.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, noted persistent challenges, including inadequate residential facilities, limited financial resources for niche academic areas, and the absence of a teaching hotel for hospitality and tourism students — the very department from which Nancy graduated.
After the Cap and Gown
Since graduating, Nancy has built a beauty business offering hair braiding and lash services, which keeps her financially active while she prepares for her next goal: a transition into law.
The experience has strengthened her belief that education can open doors that first appear out of reach, and she hopes her story will encourage others facing similar constraints.
“In my community, my story serves as encouragement to younger people who may also face challenges. It shows them that with determination, excellence and the right support, their dreams are achievable,” she said.
The MTN Bright Scholarship
The MTN Bright Scholarship Programme, launched in 2018 as part of MTN Ghana’s 20th anniversary commitment, has become a flagship educational intervention of the MTN Ghana Foundation. It was renewed in 2021 during the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations to extend support to more beneficiaries.
Since its inception, the programme has supported more than 2,000 students from basic school to the tertiary level, with the 2025 cohort alone comprising 300 tertiary students and 200 teachers selected from a competitive pool. The scheme has reached 45 public tertiary institutions nationwide, with beneficiaries including 187 females, 313 males, and 33 differently-abled students.
The academic outcomes have been notable. Seventeen Bright Scholars have graduated as valedictorians or best students at their universities, 299 with first-class honours, 47 with second-class upper and 16 with second-class lower.
For Nancy, the scholarship’s impact is personal. “It told me that my effort was worth investing in,” she said.
As MTN Ghana marks 30 years of operations, hers is one of the stories that reflect the company’s long-term investment in education — and what becomes possible when financial barriers are removed for students who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
